They've long been history; now drive-ins are historical

A family affair: Sarah Barnewall, 14, from Melton, enjoys watching Shrek The Third at the Coburg Drive-in with her mother and two sisters. Coburg is one of just three remaining drive-ins in VictoriaPhoto: Penny Stephens

Clay LucasJuly 3, 2007

TWO of Victoria's three drive-ins have been classified by the
National Trust in a bid to protect a movie phenomenon that refuses
to die.

The National Trust has classified the Coburg and Dromana
drive-ins, and is considering classifying the third, Dandenong's
Lunar Drive-In. However, classification offers the drive-ins no
legal protection.

Drive-in theatres were almost wiped out in the 1980s by the
video recorder and spiralling property prices.

But Melbourne's three remaining drive-ins have boomed in recent
years  especially in summer. They also come to life during
school holidays, as Coburg's did last night, despite the cold.

National Trust chief Martin Purslow said it was a first for his
organisation to classify a drive-in. "But heritage is not just
about grand 19th-century houses. It's also about protecting popular
cultural phenomenons," he said.

Victoria once had 60 drive-ins. And Australia's first opened in
Burwood in 1954, two years before the arrival of television.

Many closed in the 1980s as once cheap outer-suburban land
became housing estates or shopping centres  and the video
recorder infiltrated lounge rooms.

Melbourne's only other remaining drive-in, in Dandenong, is run
by former Village Roadshow manager David Kilderry, who also runs
the website drive-insdownunder.

He said it was wonderful drive-ins were being recognised as
important to Melbourne's history. "The drive-in cinema is the only
place where the two greatest icons of the 20th century  the
car and the motion picture  come together.

"In 50 or 100 years' time, there will be more interest in a
drive-in than there will be in one of (Melbourne's) old historic
buildings.

"The drive-in theatre will be no different to the Regent
Theatre, which they wanted to demolish in the 1970s."

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A family affair: Sarah Barnewall, 14, from Melton, enjoys watching Shrek The Third at the Coburg Drive-in with her mother and two sisters. Coburg is one of just three remaining drive-ins in Victoria